Rug of the MonthSeptember 2011Silk Hereke

This month's feature rug is this beautiful silk Hereke. Hereke is a region in Turkey, about 40 miles from Istanbul and is known around the globe for its extraordinary rug weaving. Some of the finest silk and wool rugs come out of Hereke. Hereke rug weaving was established in 1843 by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire at that time. The rugs that were woven then were made strictly for the Empire's palaces or to be used at gifts to foreign dignitaries -- these high-quality rugs were not on the trade route and could not be purchased. It wasn't until the very late 1800s that Hereke rugs could be sold to the general consumer. As you can see in the picture above, the Hereke silk rugs are prized for their intricate details and amazing colors. Hereke dyers have perfected the art of dyeing silk and, as a result, can produce a vast array of colors for their silk threads. The silk used in Hereke rugs is made in Bursa, Turkey -- arguably the most ideal location in the world for silk production. The weavers are trained to tie very fine knots. This particular piece has approximately 945 knots per square inch -- some Hereke silk rugs can be found with an even greater knot count. The high knot count is what allows for such intricate detail in the design and the clean look of the pile. This piece is 1'7"x1'6", which is not an unusual size for silk rugs. These small silk rugs are perfect pieces to use as wall hangings or to place on a table-top as decoration. The rug is made on a silk foundation, so the fringe will also be silk and the silk fibers are very durable.

Close-up image of the center medallion

Back side of rug -- the incredible detail visible on the backside of a rug is a sign of a finely knotted rug